Pride and Prudence CHAPTER 7.
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For some time, Mrs. Este continued to get work for Jane, and take it home for her; but she began to think that it would be as well for her to begin helping herself a little more; so she purposely remained away from Mrs. Ashton's one Saturday afternoon, when she knew that the family would need the one or two dollars that would be coming to Jane. She usually called in the afternoon, and at the accustomed hour, Jane had the work pinned up in a neat bundle, and ready for her aunt. But as the day began to draw to a close, she experienced a good degree of uneasiness, at not seeing the welcome face of kind aunt Mary. Their last dollar had been spent, and George's month's wages were not due until the middle of the next week.
Should anything keep her aunt away, Jane felt a sickening consciousness, that, of necessity, she should have to perform the duty from which she had so long shrunk with a nervous reluctance. Often had she reproached herself for allowing her aunt to neglect her own family to perform what it was but right that she should do. Often had she resolved that she would no longer hold back from the duty; but as often, had her resolution failed her.
The night at last closed in, and George returned home from his business. Almost the last article of food in the house was consumed for supper. After the tea things were cleared away, Jane retired to her room and dressed herself in a neat plain manner to go out. Her heart beat with a troubled uneasy motion, as she took up the small bundle of work and came downstairs.
"George," said she, in as unconcerned a tone as she could assume, "I want you to go down the street with me."
"Where are you going, Jane?" said Mrs. Ashton, with an expression of surprise.
"Aunt couldn't come today, and I'm just going to step down to Mrs. Gendreau's with my work."
"Indeed you are not going to do any such a thing! Jane," said her mother. "I am surprised at your aunt for not coming to carry home the work? Is it possible that you can sodemean yourself?"
"Mother, we are out of everything, and have not a dollar in the house," said Jane, in a voice that trembled with ill suppressed emotion.
"Has it come to this!" exclaimed George in a bitter tone, rising and walking the room hastily. Mastering her feelings, Jane, who possessed, with all her shrinking from duty, moremoral courage than any of the family, said,
"I see nothing so very dreadful in the idea of taking back a little work after it is done, and getting the money for it. Surely, George you do not feel degraded when you receive the reward of your honest industry! — and why should I? I think mother is unjust to aunt Este. For months has she neglected her own family to bring me work, and when I have finished the work — she has come, cheerfully, and carried it home for me, and then brought us the money. We are no better than she. And it seems to me, that if we are ashamedto do for ourselves, what we are willing that she should do for us — we deserve to suffer."
"All very pretty, and romantic, Jane," said her mother, in a tone of irony.
"It is sober truth, mother. Don't you think so, George?"
George, thus unexpectedly appealed to, could only answer, "It sounds very much like it, Jane."
"Truth or not, Jane, you can't carry that work back, so there's the end of it," said Mrs. Ashton. "I think I ought to know what is right and proper for you to do, and, unless you are determined to disobey my express commands — you will not leave this house tonight!"
Jane burst into tears and sat dawn. She had, by hard efforts, schooled herself to act as duty called; but just as she was entering with some little degree of willingness into the duty, all her feelings were checked and chilled by an unreasonable parental interposition.
It was nearly half an hour before anyone broke the silence that ensued. Each one's thoughts were oppressed by their own peculiar burdens. Jane was the first who spoke. She asked the simple, but to them, startling question — "Then, mother, what shall we do?"
"I'm sure I don't know, child," replied Mrs. Ashton, in an irritable tone of voice.
"Unless I carry this work back, mother, and get the money for it — we shall have nothing to eat tomorrow, nor until George's month's wages become due.
"Could not you go to your aunt with the work and get her to take it back for you."
"I will carry it back myself, first," said George, warmly. "It would be wrong to ask aunt Este to do any such thing."
"Indeed it would, mother. Do just say that you withdraw your command, and then I shall know how to act," urged Jane.
"Well, Jane, I withdraw that command, but still, I would much rather you would not go."
"Come, George, you must go with me, as it is night," said Jane in a cheerful, animated tone; and in a few moments from the time Mrs. Ashton withdrew her positive interdiction, they were on their way to the dwelling of Mrs. Gendreau, where, in the days of prosperity, they had been welcome visitors. It was a sore trial for those young, but chastened spirits to bear the mortification of thus acknowledging in person, their great reverse and poverty, to one with whom they had held an equal station. But strong necessity urged them on to duty.
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